Pakistan

Cultural ties: Pak-China Friendship Centre inaugurated

Chinese premier unveiled the plaque of the centre at Shakarparian along with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

December 19, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday inaugurated the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre - an icon of their evergreen relationship and a platform for promotion of their mutual cultural ties.

The Chinese premier unveiled the plaque of the centre at Shakarparian along with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The foundation of the centre was also laid by Premier Wen in April 2005. It is a gift from the Chinese government to the people of Pakistan and has been built at a cost of Rs 3billion in 22 months.

Keys of the centre were handed over by Chinese Cultural Minister Cai Wu to his Pakistani counterpart Pir Aftab Shah Gilani before its inauguration.

Premier Wen in his brief remarks said he was pleased to launch the new Pakistan-China Friendship Centre, which he said would be a symbol of the deep bond between the two countries. He said the Pak-China Friendship Association would be organising 1,000 cataract operations of Pakistanis and help bring light to their lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

Nadia Suhail | 14 years ago | Reply President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the need for capturing the true essence of Pakistan-China friendship. Indeed Pakistan and China enjoy a unique and enduring friendship. It was wonderful gathering at Prime Minister house last evening when Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, members of the federal cabinet and parliamentarians, the banquet was attended by PML (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, JUI(F) Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, PML(Q) Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali, MQM parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar and other political figures. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chiefs of the three armed services also attended the banquet. President Zardari said there can be no doubt that Pakistan and China are, as described by President Hu Jintao, “truly good neighbours, close friends, trusted partners and dear brothers”. He said, “Our fraternal bonds are rooted in the ethos of our people. Physical proximity, our common rivers and mountains and shared cultural and civilizational heritage has given depth and substance to our relations”. The President said in more recent times, the peoples of Pakistan and China have waged similar struggles against the forces of subjugation and oppression. I laud the efforts of President Zardari which he made through his frequent visits to China. We face common challenges and have enormous resilience and potential to overcome these challenges. Pak-China partnership is founded on an absolute convergence of interest that finds expression in the united and principled stance on all international and regional issues.

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